Spiller Prominent on Heisman Lists

Nov. 19, 2009

CLEMSON, SC – Clemson running back C.J. Spiller is listed among the top five candidates for the Heisman Trophy in eight published polls this week. He is ranked as high as first in the Nissan Fan poll, a national vote of fans from across the country. He has 80,000 votes, 10,000 more than any other candidate (as of Thursday morning).

Spiller is ranked second by southernpigskin.com, third according to the ESPN Experts poll, third by SI.com, fourth by Heismanpundit.com and fifth by USA Today, CBS Sportsline and the ESPN statistical predictor. The later is a computer formula based on individual statistics and team record.

Spiller and Alabama running back Mark Ingram are the only players in the top five of all eight polls.

The senior running back ranks third in the nation in all-purpose running with 195 yards per game. He needs just 103 yards against Virginia on Saturday to break the ACC record for all-purpose yards in a single season. The existing record is 2054 by Thomas Jones of Virginia in 1999.

Spiller also needs just 140 all-purpose yards to become the fifth player in FBS history to reach the 7000 yard mark in his career. The native of Lake Butler, FL has scored 14 touchdowns this year, including at least one in every game. He is one of just two players nationally to score at least one touchdown in every game this year.